Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Ontario Court of Justice | March 31, 2026
Ontario Court of Justice – Jordan-Compliant Scheduling in Provincial Offences Act Matters Direction
Effective March 30, 2026, this direction provides guidance to ensure matters are scheduled within the timelines required by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Jordan. This replaces the previous scheduling direction (last updated in 2022).
Advocacy | March 27, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of March 23
2026 Ontario Budget: On Thursday, the Ontario government released the 2026 Budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario. Justice sector spending is projected at $7.3 billion in 2026-27, and the overall deficit for 2026-27 is $13.8 billion, up from the $7.8 billion figure in the 2025 budget. You can read more about the budget and view the full document here.
Advocacy | March 27, 2026
OBA Update - Budget 2026
Justice sector expense is projected to increase from $7.2 billion in 2024–25 to $7.4 billion in 2028–29. Investments in the sector support enhanced border security, the expansion and construction of new correctional institutions, and public safety,
Article | March 24, 2026
Dispelling the Myth of the Kangaroo Court - Analyzing the Admission of Hearsay Evidence before Administrative Tribunals
Every lawyer who practices in administrative law has surely heard the warning that the tribunal at which they are about to appear is a “kangaroo court” – a disparaging remark used to describe a tribunal that lacks structure and rules, willing to admit any evidence, far outside the rigours of the civil court system. This article challenges this assumption. Based on the analysis contained herein, Tribunals do not “let everything in” or ignore the rules of evidence without justification.
Legislative Update | March 20, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of March 16
Pepper Spray: Ontario is calling on the Federal government to amend the Criminal Code to allow the use of pepper spray for self-defence. Currently, pepper spray designed for use on people is classified as a prohibited weapon.
